Last Thursday night, I received a DM that would change everything (for starters, any plans I had for the week to come!).

"Hey Sam, I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles, and I'm a bisexual man."

That message from Mitch Brown broke 129 years of silence in the AFL. This week, as the story (you can watch Part 1 here, and Part 2 here) reverberated across the country and beyond, I've been reflecting on what we learned - not just about the AFL, but about preparation, courage, and what it means to hold space for someone to tell their story for the first time.

P.S. Sport is a reflection of culture. When one changes, the other shifts as well. We want to tell more stories in the complex, fascinating space where sport and culture intersect, and if you'd like to join us on that journey, you can sign up for our Sport Newsletter here.

The most striking thing about sitting across from Mitch wasn't his nervousness - though he was visibly anxious. It was his clarity about why he was there.

There was one moment early in the interview when I could see the exact moment when the mathematical impossibility of his situation struck him: across thousands of players and more than a century of competition, he was the first to publicly say these words. He almost laughed at the thought.

Former AFL CEO Gil McLachlan once called coming out a "burden" for the first player to do so, and I put that directly to Mitch.

What struck me was how Mitch reframed that burden as an opportunity. "This is not about me," he said repeatedly. "It's about sharing my experience so others can feel seen."

The interview revealed the sophisticated mechanisms that keep secrets buried in hypermasculine environments. It wasn't just outright hostility - though there was plenty of that. What surprised me about Mitch’s story was the extent of covert condition-setting that took place in the locker room.

It was the casual dismissal when 19-year-old Mitch asked a teammate about sexuality and was laughed at. It was the locker room conversations speculating about which players might be gay. The chat about who “picked up” over the weekend.

These weren't necessarily malicious people. Many, according to Mitch's account, were great teammates and friends. But they were part of a system that made authenticity impossible.

There was, of course, a recount of blatant homophobia, like when Mitch described a conversation with a teammate who said he'd rather be in a cage with lions than shower next to a gay man.

Preparing for this interview meant grappling with questions about bisexuality that mainstream media rarely addresses. Research shows bisexual people face unique discrimination, being rejected by both straight and gay communities. They're more likely to stay closeted, more likely to struggle with mental health, and more likely to face erasure of their identity.

I had prepared a number of questions for Mitch to discuss this complexity from various angles. I also wanted to ask him about privilege - how it felt to present to the world as a straight man, with a female partner, and have this part of his identity buried a few layers under.

But the interview didn’t quite go the way I thought it would. Within the first few minutes, Mitch pretty much covered all of these points himself, totally unprompted.

The best interviewers in global journalism all say that it’s important to be prepared, but it’s equally important to be listening and adapt to what’s being said by your subject. Mitch tackled some of my toughest questions before I had even had the chance to ask them.

Within hours of publication, our story was being covered by news organisations across the globe - from the BBC, NBC and Washington Post, to the Times of India and France 24. The international attention highlighted just how unique the AFL's situation was. Other major sporting leagues have had openly gay or bisexual players for years, if not decades.

The global coverage also revealed something uncomfortable: Australia's reputation as an inclusive society doesn't extend to our sporting culture. While we celebrate diversity in many areas, our football codes remain stubbornly behind. International journalists were genuinely surprised that it had taken until 2025 for this barrier to break.

This experience reminded me why we do what we do at TDA. When someone trusts you with their story, especially one as significant as this, you have a responsibility to tell it with care, context, and courage.

Mitch chose us not because we're the biggest platform, but because he believed we'd tell his story properly. That trust is humbling. It's also a reminder that some stories necessitate longer pieces, rather than short and sharp grabs. Sure, we know attention spans are always something to contend with - but with a story as compelling as Mitch’s, we knew you’d want us to take our time with the chat.

I would like to end with a note on the two most important TDA team members who brought this story to life: Features Editor Emma Gillespie and Content Production Manager Orla Maher. They were the absolute driving forces behind this interview. When Mitch thanked TDA at the end for creating the space for him to share his story, it was a gesture of appreciation to these two remarkable professionals, as well as everyone else who has helped to build this platform.

Bone broth for babies? Yes please!

Meet Little Harvesters – the baby puree that’s turning heads (and winning hearts) across Australia. Packed with bone broth, healthy fats, organic veggies, and premium proteins, it’s designed to fuel your baby’s growth during those crucial early months.

No fillers, no nasties – just real, nourishing ingredients that support brain development and overall health.